Real Mysore sandalwood is rare and costly. Because of this, much of what is sold as chandan in India today is mixed with cheaper wood, dyed, or sprayed with synthetic perfume. After four decades of supplying pure sandalwood to more than 500 temples, here are the five tests we teach our own customers.
1. The smell test
Pure sandalwood has a soft, warm, woody aroma. It is gentle, never sharp. It also lasts — real chandan smells stronger the longer you hold it, and a genuine piece still carries fragrance years later.
Fake or coated wood usually smells strong at first, almost like perfume or alcohol, and then fades within days. If the smell hits you fast and disappears fast, be careful.
2. The weight test
Sandalwood heartwood is dense. A real chandan stick feels heavier than it looks for its size. Very light, airy wood is often a cheaper look-alike species.
3. The rub test
Rub the stick on a wet stone. Pure sandalwood gives a smooth, creamy, pale-yellow paste, and the fragrance grows as you rub. Adulterated wood gives a rough or gritty paste with little aroma — or a strong perfume smell that does not deepen.
4. The water test for red sandalwood powder
This one is for lal chandan powder. Mix a pinch in water. Dyed powder releases a bright, artificial pink or red colour almost instantly. Genuine raktachandan releases its deep, earthy red slowly and gently.
5. The only sure test: a lab certificate
Home tests help, but the only certain proof is laboratory testing. GC-MS analysis measures santalol — the natural compound that gives sandalwood its aroma and value. Genuine heartwood shows a clear santalol content; fakes show none.
This is why every batch we sell is third-party lab tested, and a certificate travels with it. If a seller cannot show you a lab report, ask yourself why.
Buy once, buy pure
Pure sandalwood costs more — but you are paying for the real thing, not a stretched imitation. Explore our lab-tested chandan for pooja, sandalwood for skincare, and japa malas — every batch certified, every claim tested.